WHILE badminton is not as popular as other sporting disciplines in the country, the Jamaica Badminton Association (JBA) in an attempt to build the sport is targeting inner-city schools and communities across Jamaica.

Speaking to the Jamaica Observer recently, JBA president Robert Richards said that the JBA is now injecting vigour and life into the inner-city programme which will again see growth and expansion in other areas, communities and among schools which will unearth new talents that will assist in promoting and marketing the sport.

“With the decline in several other areas of sports, the inner-city programme now produces a number of the national players in the junior programme. Plans are afoot to have the programme expanded to a number of other schools and the objectives that we will endeavour to achieve,” he said.

“Our main objectives are to identify and develop new young talents to enhance the national junior programme, by increasing the number of schools and communities within the inner city to participate in the sport of badminton and to create opportunities for young players through badminton by means of scholarships,” the president added.

The schools participating in the programme are Tavares Garden Primary, Dupont Primary, Whitfield All-Age, St Peter Claver Primary, Trench Town Primary and Junior High and Denham Town Primary.

Richards encouraged surrounding communities to come on board to support the development of the youth.

“We again encourage the companies in the Spanish Town Road, Marcus Garvey and Grants Pen areas to come on board to assist in this important development programme for the youth,” he ended.